Indian delegation clears Peshawar

December 28, 2005 13:00 IST

Even without inspecting the stadium, the Indian delegation, visiting Pakistan to assess security arrangements for India's forthcoming tour, has given the go-ahead to Peshawar to host one of the five one-day internationals between India and Pakistan on February 8.

The five-member BCCI security team led by Yashovardhan Azad, after discussing security measures with the provincial police and local administration on Tuesday, decided that the arrangements are "good enough" to give the green signal to the Indian team to play the match at the Arbab Niaz cricket ground.

"We do not need to visit the stadium to assess the security measures. Last time we inspected the ground and its surroundings and I hope the security will remain the same for the upcoming Indian cricket team's tour to Peshawar," Azad said.

Azad also added that they would not bar any Indian cricketer from going around the city before or after the match, but the primary focus of the team would be on the game.

Meanwhile, the provincial police Inspector General Riffat Pasha said the Indian team would get round the clock security.

"We will provide security to the Indian team not only in the ground, but also at the hotel and routes of their travelling," Pasha said.

Earlier on Tuesday, the security team also visited the National Stadium in Karachi, which is scheduled to host the third Test match.

The Indian team is due to arrive in Pakistan on January 5. They are scheduled to play three Tests in Lahore, Faisalabad and Karachi and then one-day matches in Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Multan and Karachi.